Floribunda rose plant cv. Arocruby

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of floribunda rose plant cv. Arocruby, particularly suited for garden decoration, identified by its white flowers which develop an intense red blush on those areas of the petals exposed to sunlight.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety (cv.Arocruby) of rose plant of the floribunda class. The plant is a hardyoutdoor seedling of the bush type cultivated for garden decoration. Itwas first originated by Jack E. Christensen in Ontario, Calif., U.S.A.under conditions of careful control and observation, and has as its seedparent the floribunda rose, Rumba (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,919) and, asits pollen parent, the floribunda rose Angel Face (U.S. Plant Pat. No.2,792).

The new rose cv. Arocruby is particularly distinguishable from othercommericalized rose cultivars by the following combination ofcharacteristics: its white flowers which develop an intense red coloringon those portions of the petals exposed to sunlight; its large clustersof moderately sized flowers; and its stems which have virtually no largeprickles and only a few small prickles.

Arocruby holds its distinguishing characteristics through succeedingpropagations by budding.

The new variety cv. Arocruby may be distinguished from its seed parent,Rumba, by the following combination of characteristics: Whereas Rumbahas flowers which are initially yellow in color and develop a red blushon those portions of its petals exposed to sunlight, the flowers ofArocruby are initially white in color and develop a red blush on thoseportions of its petals exposed to sunlight. The flowers of Rumba areborne in heavy, compact clusters whereas the heavy flower clusters ofArocruby are less compact. Whereas the mature plants of Rumba areaverage in size for the class, the plants of Arocruby are about 1/2 toabout 1/3 times larger.

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, Angel Face,by the following combination of characteristics: Whereas the flowercolor of Angel Face is a deep mauve-lavender, the flower color ofArocruby is a combination of white with red. The flowers of Angel Faceare borne in clusters of 3-4 individual flowers, whereas the flowers ofArocruby are borne in clusters of 6 to 8 or more individual flowers.Whereas the flowers of Angel Face are highly fragrant, the flowers ofArocruby are only slightly fragrant.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the new variety in color as grownin Somis, Calif., and shows the flowering thereof from bud to fullbloom.

The description matter which follows pertains to roses of the newvariety grown outdoors in Somis, Calif., and is believed generally toapply to plants grown under similar conditions of soil and climateelsewhere. Plants and flowers of the new variety grown in otherlocations may vary in slight detail according to the climatic, soil andcultural conditions under which the variety is grown.

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color as used in common speech is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based upon the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety of London, England.

FLOWERS

Flowers of the new variety are usually borne in flat clusters of 6 to 8flowers per stem, sometimes 10 to 12 or more flowers per stem. Flowerstems are of average strength and of average length for the class. Theplant blooms very abundantly and continuously during the growing season,both outdoors and in the greenhouse. Flowers have a slight fragrance.

BUD

The penduncle is short to average in length for the class, of averagecaliper, and strong. The peduncle is moderately smooth with somestipitate glands and small prickles. Bud color is near Green 137D.

Before the calyx breaks, the bud is average in size for the class, ofaverage length, pointed and ovoid to ovoid globular in form with aconspicuous neck. There are few foliaceous appendages and stipitateglands on the surface of the bud. Slender foliaceous parts extend beyondthe tip of the bud equal to about 1/4 to about 1/2 of the bud length.

As the calyx breaks, petal color is near white. The inner surface of thesepals is lined with a fine wooly tomentum. Sepal margins are lined withstipitate glands, gland-tipped cilia and hairs.

As the first petal opens, buds are small to average in size for theclass, average in length and pointed to ovoid in form. Color of theoutside of the bud petals is a creamy white, near Yellow-White 158B withtints of green and red, near Green 142C and Red-Purple 63B. The insidesurface of the bud petals is a creamy white, near White 158B in color.

The bud opens up well and is not prevented from opening by cold, hot,wet or dry weather.

BLOOM

The size of the bloom when fully open is average for the class, about21/2 to about 23/4 inches in diameter. Petalage is double, averagingfrom about 27 to about 29 regularly arranged petals plus 1 to 2petaloids.

Blooms at one half open are somewhat flat topped in form, with petalssomewhat cupped. Petal edges are somewhat reflexed to rolled outward.

When fully open, the blooms are somewhat flat, with loosely cuppedpetals. Petal edges are somewhat undulated to rolled slightly outward.

The petals are of moderate substance, of average thickness, and slightlysatiny on the inside and outside surface. Outside petals are nearlyround to oval in shape, the rounded apices usually bearing 2 to 3notches. Intermediate petals are nearly round to obovate in shape withrounded apices bearing 2 to 3 notches. Inside petals are obovate, withrounded apices bearing 2 to 3 notches.

Petal colors may be modified with other colors by being margined,shaded, or tinted with other colors.

The following paragraph describes the color values observed in a newlyopened flower from a plant of the new variety grown in a greenhouse inSomis, Calif. in November of 1987.

The outside surface of the outside petals is near Red-Purple 63A incolor on the upper half of the petal and near White 155B in color on thelower half of the petal. The inside surface of the outside andintermediate and inner petals is the same as the outside surface of theoutside petals except that the red color occupies the upper 1/4 of thepetal, the balance of the petal being near White 155B. The outsidesurface of the intermediate and inner petals is near White 155B with anarrow red margin of near Red 63A.

The following paragraph describes the color values observed in a floweropen for three days in a greenhouse from a plant of the new variety inNovember, 1987 at Somis, Calif.

The color of the outside surface of the outside petals is near White155B. The inside surface of the outside petal is predominantly crimsonred, near Red 63A, and a white at the petal base, near White 155B. Thecolor of the outside and inside surface of the inside petal is nearWhite 155B.

The general color effect of the newly opened flower is a pure white withbright, highly contrasting, red petal margins. The outside surface ofthe outer petals exposed to sunlight is mostly red.

After being open three days, the general color effect of the flower is abright, crimson red blush over all petal surfaces exposed to sunlight.Those areas of the petal protected from exposure to sunlight remain astark white.

Petals usually drop off cleanly, except for petaloids, and are notparticularly affected by hot or wet weather.

Flowers grown in the month of November last 5 or more days on a bush inthe garden. Cut flowers from rose plants grown in a greenhouse inNovember last from 6 to 7 days when kept at living room temperatures.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens are few to average in number and are arranged irregularly aboutthe pistils; a few may also be mixed with the petaloids. Filaments aremedium in length and most have average to large sized anthers. Anthersopen approximately all at once. Immature and mature anthers are nearGreyed-Orange 164C in color. Pollen is produced in somewhat sparsequantities and is near Greyed-Orange 164C in color.

Pistils are few in number for the class (about 20). Styles are even,short in length, of average caliper, and are somewhat bunched. Stigmacolor is near Yellow 2D. Ovaries are usually enclosed in the calyx.

Hips are short in length for the class, oblong and gourd-shaped in form.Their flesh is moderately thin and their outside surface is smooth.Mature hips are near Orange 28B in color.

Sepals are permanent, and of average length for the class. The insidecolor of the mature sepals is near Greyed-Orange 177A. The outside colorof the mature sepals is near Brown 200B.

Seeds are usually small and are few in number (about 5 to 7).

FOLIAGE

The compound leaves comprises 5 to 7 leaflets. Leaves are borne innormal quantities and are of average size for the class. Leaves aremoderately heavy and are semi-glossy. Leaflets are oval in shape, withacute apices; their bases are round and their margins are serrate.

The color of the upper surface of mature leaves is near Green 139A. Theunder surface of the mature leaf is near Green 138C, washed with areddish purple, near Greyed-Purple 186B. The upper surface of the youngleaves is near Yellow-Green 147A, washed with Greyed-Purple 184B. Theunder surface of young leaves is near Greyed-Purple 184B in color.

The rachis is light to average in size. Its upper side is hairy withstipitate glands on the edges. The underside is moderately smooth withstipitate glands.

Stipules are average in length for the class and narrow, having shortpoints turning out at an angle of less than 90°, slightly recurvedtoward the stem.

Plants of the new variety are average in their resistance to mildew andblackspot as compared with other cultivars now in commerce when grownunder comparable conditions at Somis, Calif.

GROWTH

Plants of the new variety are average in height much branched and bushyin habit. Plant growth is moderately vigorous. Canes are of moderate tolight caliper for the class.

The main stems are near Yellow-Green 144A in color. They bear no largethorns and few small prickles, near Greyed-Red 179D in color. There areno hairs.

Branches are near Green 138D in color; they bear no large thorns and fewsmall prinkles, near Greyed-Red 179D in color. There are no hairs.

New shoots are near Yellow-Green 147A washed with Greyed-Purple 184B incolor. New shoots bear no large thorns and few small prickles, nearGreyed-Purple 184B in color. There are no hairs.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of floribunda rose plant cv. Arocruby, and the parts thereof, being particularly characterized by its white flowers which develop an intense red coloring on those portions of the petals exposed to sunlight; its large clusters of moderately sized flowers; and its stems which have virtually no large prickles and only a few small prickles, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 